Travelgrrl

In regard to the first photo from the hotel that morning, I can't oversell the book I was (re)reading. I'm a children's librarian and I stumbled over this YA book about WWII: "The War That Saved My Life". It's the kind of book that when it's over you want to start right back at the beginning and read it again, and deeply wish there was a sequel. There is a sequel! "The War I Almost Won", and it's pretty darned good, too.

Sunday, April 16 Departure Day! I had plenty of time for coffee & reading poolside in the morning, then breakfast at the hotel, putting my cruise tag on my suitcase, then catching the hotel’s shuttle to the port. It turned out to be a very large bus, which was rapidly filled by hotel guests. We had a very engaging driver, who got us all ramped up about our cruises. There was TONS of construction downtown – no workers on a Sunday but it was sad to see him deflate when he came to the ‘tunnel’ that would quickly get us to the port as it was closed due to an accident. So it was a long detour filled with many cruisers funneling from 4 lanes down to 2, and it took 90 minutes from hotel to the port, (a distance of 8 mile!) arriving at 12:15. Once I got off the bus, it was easy peasy dropping off my large suitcase and checking in, and I was on board at 12:41! I immediately checked in with the Muster people, which was right on deck where we entered, so that was super quick, too. And Sheehans was right there, so I nipped in for lunch! I was seated at 12:54, so this gives you an idea how efficient everything was. I'm pretty sure people hadn't learned about Sheehans yet, so it was quite empty. By the time I was done with my fish and chips, my room was ready AND my suitcase was there, so I happily unpacked. My tour tickets were also in my room! I didn’t meet my Room Steward for another day, and then I gave him $20 and told him the main thing was to keep me stocked with ice. (Those Coca Colas aren’t going to chill themselves!) Once I felt a bit more organized, I took a precautionary Bonine (non-sleepy, highly recommended!), grabbed my book and went to check out the ship. I was interested to visit Spice H2O and see if they had any comfortable chairs in the smoking section. In all my research on the Escape, I never saw one photo that proved this one way or another. The single other smoking area on the Escape is by the Wave Bar, also on deck 17, and I knew in advance that it had high, hard bar stools – not conducive to curling up with a book! I’m happy to report that YES, there are 12 comfy chairs in that area at Spice H2O and I was always able to grab one of them. There was always a crowd of friendly folks there and I met some really nice people! Awhile later I moved to a shady spot midship to watch the sailaway from Miami. We were off! Next up: A tour of my Solo Cabin!

You are too kind. This is the boring part of the trip report but soon I'll be having wild and crazy adventures! Well, what passes for wild and crazy when one is old and dull as dirt. 🤪

Saturday, 4/15/23 I purchased my airfare through NCL and it was only $200, and I got nonstop flights from Chicago to Miami. I had requested an air deviation so I could stay overnight in port, and NCL not only did that, but refunded me the $25 I had paid for airport transfers PLUS a $25 reward for not coming in the day of the cruise. (If I mention money a lot in this trip report, it's because I was gauging how much more it would be to cruise alone, as I'm used to splitting the cost of hotel, stateroom etc with another person. Spoiler Alert: things like the very cheap airfare, NCL paying for my excursions, zero cost for cappuccinos and mostly free Cokes made the costs almost equivalent!) I did have to get up VERY early and leave my house at 3:50 AM to catch a shuttle to O’Hare for my 7:10 flight via United (There's no such thing as a free lunch, right?). However overall it was well worth the early flight going out and the late flight returning for $100 each way! After a quick flight, I got my suitcase and waited in the hotel shuttle area for an hour before my shuttle to Comfort Suites Miami Airport North arrived. What airport hotel only has shuttles once an hour? That wasn’t on their website! To make matters worse, the guy dropped me off at a Comfort Inn, the wrong hotel! I was on the right shuttle but it went to several hotels, and another poor lady and I had.to walk to our hotel a few parking lots away. It made me mad, but my hotel made up for it by checking me in very early to my King suite as it was now only about 11:30 AM. (I'm trying to insert photos as illustrations but I fear they're just going to the bottom of the post!) I made a reservation for Comfort Suites free shuttle to the cruise port for the next morning. There was an earlier one around 8:30 but I figured what was the rush? I’d rather linger at the hotel than in a hard plastic chair at the cruise port. I hung out by the pool (didn’t swim, but read and smoked), then ironed all of my dresses for the week. For dinner I ordered food from Old Tom’s restaurant which was nearby. Their website offered a code for 10% off your first order – but they didn’t honor it. Walked along a busy airport highway to pick up dinner and found the World's Last Pay Phone! I got an enormous burger AND lemon pepper chicken wings. Let the vacation eating commence! There was a Circle K on the way so stopped there for Cokes – too bad NCL won’t let you bring any onboard, like other lines. Back in the room I had dinner (saving half for a 10 PM munchie), hung out at the pool and then watched a new episode of Repair shop on Youtube and then SNL with Ana de Armas. Heaven! Next up: I embark on the Escape!

As an introduction, I (62F) have been on many cruises on Disney, Carnival, Princess, and mostly Royal Caribbean - but this was my first cruise on Norwegian! It was also my first solo cruise, and the reason I tried NCL and their Solo Cabins. I had some trepidation about Norwegian and its cruisers (so unknown!) but it was a splendid cruise and I liked Norwegian very much and met some really delightful people. Join me as I discover if I would be lonely or happily alone on my first Solo Cruise! Here's a shot of me hanging ten on Great Stirrup Cay. I'm sure Duke Kahanamoku would be proud! 😆

I am so ready to have fun! Packed 3 books, 5 movies, little piglets to hide around the ship, a jumbo tube of glow sticks for the Glow Party, chocolate coins to enhance cash tips, my favorite candy and snacks, room decorations, fun clothes, and a few silk flower hair clips if I'm feeling extra whimsical.

Sadly, this is probably my one and only cruise this year (maaaaaybeee December '23) as I'm the caregiver for my 97 year old mother and also work full time. A sister flies in twice a year so I can get a break. So I'm Pookieless!

Excited to join you on this trip but my heart is a little broken I won't get to meet someone with the magnificent name/nickname "Pookie"! Also in the Studios and looking forward to it!

Band camp logo:

I had booked this and then I saw a negative review of it on the NCL cruise review boards so I cancelled! Apparently you drive at least 90 minutes to get to the first place (so 3 hours round trip of the 7 hours of the excursion) and that the Catamaran ride, Cayo Arena and Fricolandia were rushed and not that great in any case. This was my most expensive excursion, even with the FAS discount, so I saved $100. I plan to just goof around at the port at either Taino Bay or Amber Cove and use the money for something else. I just couldn't justify sitting on a bus for nearly half of an excursion, when I was envisioning hopping on the catamaran near the pier!

I just saved the relevant deck plans to my computer, laid each one on a Publisher document in landscape (4 or 5 to a page), and then printed out the two color pages on cardstock. Then I cut them out, glued them front to back, and laid them down on a laminating sheet with a gap between each one. Smooshed another laminating sheet on top. The gaps between are where I fold it. It ended up being about 8 inches by 1.5 inches, folded. Figured it would fit in a beach bag, purse or pocket if I need it.

I also vote for the National Express bus to Southampton from Heathrow. We always stay at the same charming hotel (the name escapes me, but it's close to the port so easy to take a cab the next AM). My only quibble is that the bus travels through Winchester and they never stop at the cathedral so I can run in and see Jane Austen's grave! So close and yet so far.

Yes, I meant airport - thanks for translating for my scrambled brain! I swear I that heard others that did that! Well, too late now because they comped me back the $25 I paid for the shuttle to the ship but I've priced shared shuttles from MIA or FLL to the Miami port and they're both around $20-$25 for a single traveler. I guess I'll wait to find out what airport I'm flying into, and then make my hotel and shuttle arrangements.

I did it! First of all, they can only do an air deviation via the chat feature before final payment, so that didn't work for me. She gave me the regular customer service # above and I called it, dreading a long wait on hold. But I was immediately connected to an agent who sorted it out. He said that now I would be arriving via a hotel not booked through NCL, that I couldn't use the transfer I'd paid for. I asked if it would work if I shuttled back to the hotel on my sail date. Guess I'll have to find a shuttle as I had my identity stolen after I used Uber for the first and last time! So he refunded me $25 for the first transfer, and $25 because apparently it's a hassle to get everyone there the same day, and it's easier on NCL and therefore a little bonus. My only concern is that the confirmation page indicates "Fort Lauderdale" under the line for the deviation. I know they can send you either place, but I was really hoping to fly into Miami itself and use a free hotel shuttle to a nearby La Quinta, then a relatively inexpensive shuttle to the port. I'm guessing it's quite a bit more expensive to shuttle from Fort Lauderdale to the Miami port?! I'm a poor librarian so have to budget to travel! 🙂

You guys are the greatest! Off to try the chat feature first. And I'll just buy a pop package. Is it cheaper before the cruise or should I just do it onboard?

This reminds me of the old Colonial India days, when people would travel from England to India, and the preferred sides were "Port Out, Starboard Home" to have the least shade, in those days of no air conditioning. "P. O. S. H" were stamped on their travel trunks, and "POSH" came to mean something high class. The etymology of the word 'posh' is unclear, and this explanation is as valid as any!

Hi, this is my first Norwegian cruise and I'm navigating the Free At Sea offers. I opted for the airfare, which was about half of what I would typically pay. However, when booked directly with NCL , I did not ask to come into Miami a day early. I guess I was laboring under the delusion that the ship would wait for a planeload of NCL cruisers, should there be a delay - but lately there have been so many air travel snafus that I'm pretty sure it no longer operates that way, if it ever did. I definitely would like to arrive a day early, as I do when I arrange my own airfare. I need to ask for a deviation by 1/30/23 at the latest. The only problem is that I don't know what number to call, and I've been all over the NCL website looking for it. There's a number for custom air (can't afford that) and another number listed for things like deviations but the website indicates that number is only for emergencies (stuck at an airport, I presume). Does anyone know the proper number to call for airfare deviations? I'm sincerely hoping this is free, and that requesting this change will not mess up the things I've already booked as part of the Free At Sea package (fancy schmancy dinner, various shore excursions, etc). My other question is not as pressing, but I opted to remove the Free Drinks package because the tax was about $250 and I wouldn't drink that much in liquor in a week's cruise. I do however enjoy a frosty Coca Cola here and there, and I believe I read a thread where someone was able to switch their free liquor package for a free pop package, again paying only the 20% tips. Is this possible? How would I do that? I guess I could just pay full freight for the pop package - but if I can score that in exchange for the much more valuable free drinks package, I'd be happy. I've been on dozens of cruises, but this will be my first alone, and first on NCL! Booked in a Studio cabin but put teensy bids on an outside room and a balcony room - but am happy to have any stateroom! Thanks in advance, fellow NCL cruisers!

I usually buy cans of Coke a la carte, but on the Jewel this month I bought a soda package because it was a good sale. I hesitated because I don't really like fountain pop, but it was great! The pop was tasty, the freestyle machines in the Windjammer was great fun (when they were working) and the insulated cup was fairly attractive and not a hassle to bring around the ship. I tipped the bartenders $1 every time I got a refill and always got great service. Otherwise, I noticed the bartenders tend to wait on those wanting alcoholic drinks first.

Hi, they are not free. If your teens have the deluxe (non alcohol) beverage package, they are included. This package includes fancy coffees, fresh squeezed orange juice, pop, and mocktails, regardless of your age. Personally, unless your teens are into cappuccinos and the like, you're probably better off buying the pop package (if they drink a lot of pop) or if not, there's plenty of free lemonade and iced tea onboard. When my kids were teens, I limited them to one mocktail in the teen club per day and it was no problem. They didn't spend as much time there as I thought they would - nor the younger kid areas when they were that age, either!

I can't speak to your specific ship, but I had a rear facing (ie with the beds 90 degrees different than usual) cabin once and even though the seas were not particularly rough, one night I was praying for the sweet release of death. There's something about a heel to toe rocking that is markedly different than a side to side rocking, For me personally, I would never book a cabin that's oriented in that fashion again. And way in front of way in back is going to have more movement than a midship cabin! Low and midship moves the least, in my experience.

It seemed brand new in 2018, in fact there was construction apparent near the sign/landscaping at the entrance. I saw no condos. We were basically outside but I would guess there was an inside bar and restaurant. We only used the bar and food service outside. There was literally no on else there (other than staff) when we arrived about noon. Eventually one other couple arrived. There was a hummingbird feeder at the bar and it attracted dozens of birds at a time. The resort was not close to Daniel Johnsons. It seems as if we went south from the ship to Daniel's, then backtracked back towards the ship and then a bit north of there to get to the resort. To me, it looked new and I guessed that's why there wasn't a horde of folks there. It was a lovely, pristine beach and everyone was really nice.

Yes, I believe it was Las Palmas (or maybe Royal Palms?) We're going in December and plan to do the same tour with Daniel Johnson, only with a different group of us!

I too thought the kids were KIDS. I'm an End-Of-The Boom Boomer, and as a single parent, I often took one or the other child on a vacation to Disney or on a cruise, etc. If they ever complained that they weren't going, I just told them "It all evens out in the end". That settled it and they learned that "You git what you git and you don't pitch a fit"! 😁 And we are talking about actual children. If my 18 or 24 year old adult child complained about something so insignificant as not being the star of their cruise door, I would ask them to help me find someone more deserving of a free cruise, because it sure isn't them. I actually feel sorry for the OP that she has an adult progeny that she has to mollycoddle in this way!

I've printed plenty at Walgreens by printing out a link like this: RCCL-Photos. My experience is that Royal doesn't really care what you do with the photos you've bought after you leave the ship - and that printing out and bringing the form to Walgreens pretty much guarantees they WON'T ask for it! 😁

Thanks! Due to COVID, I haven't been on Cruise Critic for awhile so didn't remember that. I do face painting on cruises also, which is the easiest hustle of all!